Machine for shaving sound-record tablets



July 23,1929. c. w. LUHR MA CHINETOR SHAVING SOUND RECORD TABLETS Filed Aug. 28. 1925 INVENTOR ATTORNEY tion will be hereinafter more fully described Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE;

CHARLES LUHR, OF WEST ORANGENEW JERSEY, ASSIGN OR TO THOMAS A. EDISON, I

INCORPORATED, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Application filed Augustj28, 1925. Serial No. 53,001.

My invention relates to machines forshav- Y mg off the surface portions of sound-record;

used in connection with business phonographs, it is customary, after dictated matter has been recorded on a record tablet and the record transcribed, to shave off the outer surface portion of the tablet so as to prepare the tablet for receiving a new record thereon. The present invention is designed to be used whenever it is desired to shave a soundrecord tablet to provide the same with a smooth properly prepared surface to be recorded upon, but more particularly it is designed for use in shaving off the outer surface portions of tablets provided with records which have been transcribed in order to prepare the tablets for re-use, as described above.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, an improved construction for controlling and eflecting the movements of, the shaving knife to operative and inoperative positions, and preferably comprising an arrangement whereby the adjustment of the shaving knifeto operative position with re spect to a record tablet to be shaved may be quickly effected to obtain a proper depth of cut by a simple manipulation. 1

Another object of myinvention is to provide in a machine of this character an improved construction, which regardless of the,

size or thickness of the record tablet to be shaved, effectually limits the depth of out which can be obtained upon any adjustment of the knife to operative position.

Other objects and features of my inven and claimed. I

In orderthat my invention may be more clearly understood; attention is directed to Figure 1 is a sectional view, partly in elevation and partly broken away, of a shaving machine in accordance with my invention, showing the shaving knife in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken on line 22 of Figure 1; and

Fig. 3 is an end View of the means for adjusting the shaving knife, as shown in Figure 1. I

Referring to the drawing, reference character 1, designates the mandrel of the shaving machine carrying a record tablet A to be shaved; said mandrel being ournaled in the usual manner on the frame Band being capa ble of being rotated at high speed in the direction of, the arrow C by means of suitable gearing driven by an electricv motor (not shown). Reference character 2 designates an arm or carriage, said arm being slidably mounted on the usual back-rod 3 and tiltable thereon, and the forward end of the arm, normally resting on the usual straight edge (not shown). The back-rod 8 is supported in bearings carried by spaced standards of the.

frame B, one of these standards being shown at 4. An arm 5 is secured at one end to the 1 shown) to thereby effect transverse feeding movement of the carriage 2with respect to the mandrel land the record tablet A carried thereby. I

The carnage is provided with a suitablemounting for the knife bar 8, said mounting preferably comprising an integral extension 2 of the carriage and having an opening 8", through which the knife bar extends. Suit ably mounted on the bar 8 at its inner end is a cutter or shaving knife D preferably formed of sapphire. The knife bar 8 is mounted in the extension'Q/of the carriage for slidable movement towards and away from vthe mandrel 1 in a direction substantially radialto the mandrel, so that the knife D when adjusted to operative position, will engage the.

tablet A to take a proper and effective out.

In order to lock the knife bar 8 in adjusted position, I provide the following construction The knife bar mounting 2 is provided with a cylindrical opening 9, extending therethrough at right angles to the opening 8 and intercepting the latter; and disposed in said opening 9 is a member lO provided with a cylindrical opening 11 which is substantially in alignment with the opening 8 but slightly greater in diameter than the latter, and with a reduced threaded end'portion12 extending outwardly from the mounting 2 through a reduced portion of the opening 9. A nut 13 is-threaded on the extending end portion 12 of the member 10, and a handle is secured to the nut 13 in a predetermined angular posi tion by means of a setscrew 16 threaded through the hub 15 of the handle with its inner conical end engaging a conical recess in thenut- On turning the handle 15 and thereby the nut 13 in a right-handed direction, it will be apparent that said nut will coact with the shoulder 14 of the mounting'2 to effect movement of the member 10, in a direction transverse tothe axis of the opening 8, and thereby move the cutter bar 8 into binding engagement with the Wall of opening 8 to rigidly lock the knife bar in position. Movement of the handle 15 in the opposite direction effects the release of the knife bar from binding engagement with the wall of opening 8. A coiled spring 17 disposed between the hub of the handle 15 and the mounting 2,

and having one end thereof bearing against a pin projecting from the mounting 2 and the other end engaged about the shank of the handle 15, assists in moving the handle to its inoperative or unlocking pos tion Where it engages a stop consisting of'a lug (not shown) extending from the mounting 2, and once the handle 1s loosened from its locking position, said spring insures the movement of the handle to such inoperative position.v A

small flat angular member 18 is secured to the mounting 2, as by means'of a screw 19, and has one arm thereof extending through a slot 20 in the mounting 2 and into sliding engagement witha longitudinally 'extendingrecess 21 formed in the bar 8, and acts to prevent turning movement of the bar8 and maintain the cutter or shaving knife D in proper angular posit on with respect to the The outer end portion 22 of the cutter bar 8 is reduced in diameter-and extends'loosely through the top 23 of a hollow'cap 24, outward movement of the cap 24 with respect, to

1 the knife bar 8 being limited by the head of a screw 25 which is threaded into the outerend of'the knife bar. A strong coiled spring 26 is'disposed about the knife bar 8 between a means of a set-screw 29, with the lower or inner end of the mounting 2.

A guide rod 30 is slidably mounted in an opening 30 in the extension 2 of the arm 2, said opening 30 being parallel to the opening 8 in which the knife bar is disposed, and also at its upper portion in a sleeve 31 which is secured at'itslower end within an enlargement of the opening 30. The rod 30 has a reduced threaded upper end portion 32, which extends through the top 23 of the cap 24, and the rod is secured to the cap by means of a cylindrical member 33, threaded onto the said end portion of the rod. A coiled spring 34 is disposed about the guide rod 30 between the end'wall 23 of the cap 24 and a shoulder formed on the inside of the sleeve 31, this spring being somewhat weaker than the spring 26. The member 33 in addition to securing the guide rod 30 to the cap 24, also constitutes a finger piece or actuating member whereby the knife bar 8 may be moved to bring knife D to operative position.

The function of spring 26 is to provide a A resilient connection between the knife bar 8 and cap 24, so that when the knife bar is moved to operative position, as shown in Fig. l, by depressing cap 24, the knife D will not engage the tablet A to be shaved with a hams mer blow and make a deep gouge therein, but will be gradually and yieldingly pressed a small distance into the material of the tablet A. WVhile the spring 34 assists in accomplishing the result just described, the principal function of this spring 1s to return the cap 24 and thereby the knife bar 8 to inopcrative position with the knife out of engagement with the record tablet A, when the knife bar locking member 10 is loosened, In order that the shaving device described will have a neat and attractive appearance, the skirt of the cap 24 is preferably of such length as to cover the spring 26 in all positions of the knife bar" 8 and the parts associated therewith.

WVhen the knife bar clamp or locking'member 10 has been released or loosened by moving the handle 15 to the proper position, the knife bar 8, cap 24 and guide rod 30 will be held by spring 34 in their uppermost positions with the collar 28 on the knife bar in engagement with the mounting 2 and with the knife D raised out of engagement with the record tablet A to be shaved. If it is now desired to set the knife to shave the tablet A,

the cap 24 is pushed inwardly towards the.

away from the mandrel 1. movement of the carriage is limited by the the resistance offered to. further inward movement of the cap 24;, the knifevbar is,

, is limited by engagement of the end wall 23.

thereof with the upper end of sleeve .31, as

indicated v.in dotted lines in Fig. l, and thesprings 26 and Mare-made of such strength that even ifthe cap is depressed to the limit described, the knife will be pressed into the material ofthe record tablet but a slight distance so as to take a shallow cut. After the knife bar'has been locked in operative posi-;

tion'by proper movement of the-handle 15,

pressure is removed from the finger piece 33, whereupon the cap 2 f is movedupwardly by:

spring 34 to the position shown in Fig. 1, in which the top or end wall 23 thereof engages the head 25 of'the screw threaded into th outer end of the knife bar. 7 I I 1 Theeffective tension of spring 26 may be regulated by adjusting the collar 27 on the knife bar. The main function of collar 27, however, is to provide an adjustable stop which coacts with the upperend of the knife bar mounting 2 to limit the inward move ment of the knife bar and prevent the knife from shaving a record tablet 'afterit has been turned down to a certain thickness below whichit would be impracticable to use the tablet. I

When it is desiredto disengage the feed nut 6 from the feed-screw 7 so as to permit.

the carriage 2 to be moved along the back-rod 3 to another position, or when it is desired to obtain access to the knife or cutter D for the purpose of inspecting the same or for any it is merely necessary to tilt other purpose, or turn the carnage about'the back-rod 3 Such tilting engagement of an arm 35 on the carriage with a suitable stop 36 on the frame B.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto protect by Letters Patent is as follows:

' 1. In a machine for shaving sound record tablets, the port for record tablets, of a knife bar mounted for movement towards and away from said support, and means for moving said knife bar to operative vposition comprising a member having 'a resilient connection with the knife bar and adapted for direct manual operation, I saidknife bar having its outer end extending loosely through said member andfhaving means fixedly applied to its outer end adapted to coact directly with such member to limit movement of. the latter with respect to the knife bar in a direction away from said rotatable support, said member being free, except as limited by said knifebar, to move in said direction, substantially as described.

'2. In a machine for shavingfsound record tablets, the combination with a rotatable sup combination with a rotatable support for recordtablets, of a knife barmountaway-from said rotatablesupporaand resilient means in addition to the connection between said cap and knife bar constantly tendi-v ing to move said cap in a direction away from said support, said cap being free, except as limited by said knife bar, to move in said di rection, substantially as described. 7 I p 3. In a machine for shaving soundrecord, tablets, thecombination with a rotatable support for record tablets, ofa knife bar-mounts ed for movement towards and away from said, support, means for moving said knife bar :to, operative position comprising a member having a resilient connection with the knife bar, said knife bar extending loosely through saidmember and having means adapted to coact with such member to limit movement of the latter independently of the knife-barin a direction away from saidrotatable support, and means for locking theknife bar; in operative-1 position, said knife bar moving means being operable independently of the operation of said locking means,substantially as described.

l. In a machine for; shaving sound record tablets, the combination with a rotatable support for record tablets, of aknife-bar mounted for movementtowards and away from said support, and means for moving said knife bar to operative position comprising a member having an adjustable resilient connection with the knife bar, said knife bar having its outer end portion extending loosely. through said. member and having means applied to itsouterv end adapted to coact directlyw'ithsuch memher to limit movement of the latter ii -depend; 1

ently of the knife'bar in a directionaway from said rotatable support, said member being free, except as limitedbysaid knife bar, to 7 move in said direction, substantially asv de{ scribed. M

5. In a machine for shaving soundrecordr tablets, ,thecombination with a rotatable sup theadjustable element being adapted to coact with said carriage to, limit, themovement of '7 h k f bar t wa d said V QPPPIFQ e i kfi fe.

bar having its outer end portion extending 1 loosely through said member and having means adapted to coact with such member to limit movement of the latter independently 1 and means for moving said knife bar to opof the-knife bar, Silld member being free, ex-

erative position comprising a member having a resilient connection with said knife bar, said'knife bar extending loosely through said member and being provided with means adapted to coact with such member to limit the movement ofthe latter away from said support independently of the knife bar, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for shaving sound record tablets, the combination with a rotatable sup port for record'tablets' and a carriage mountedfor relative feeding movement, of a knife bar slidably mounted on said carriage, means comprising a member having a resilient connection with said knife bar for moving the latter to operative position, the knife bar having its outer'end portion extendingloosely through said member and having means applied to its outer end adapted to-coaot with such member to limit the movement of the latter away from said support independently ceptas limited by said knife bar, to move away from said support, and a guide rod secured to said member, said rod being parallel to theknifebar and being slidably mounted in an openingpro'vided in said carriage, substantially as described.

V '8; Ina machine for shaving sound record tablets, the combination with a rotatable support for record'tablets and-a carriage mounted for relative feeding movement, of a knife bar slidably mounted on said carriage for movement towards and away'from saidsupport, means'for moving, said knife bar to operative position comprising amember movable towards and away from said carriage, said knife bar extending loosely through said member and being provided with means adapted to coact with suchimember to limit themovementof the latter away from said support independently of the'knife'v bar, a collar adjustably mounted on said knife barand a spring disposed between said collar and said member, said collar being adapted to coact with said carriage to limit the movement of the knife bar towards said support and a second spring disposed between said carriage and said member and constantly tending to; move the latter awayfrom said support, substantially as described.

9. In a machine for shavingsound record tablets, the combination with a rotatable supportfor record tablets and a carriage mounted for relative feeding movement, of a knife bar slidably mounted on said carriage for movement towards and awayfrom said support, means for'moving said knife bar to operative position comprising a member movable towards and away from said-carriage and having a resilientconnection with the knifebansaid knife bar being provided with member and constantly tending to move said movable member away from said support, the outer end of said hollow member coacting with-said movable member to limit the movement of the latter towards said support upon actuation thereof to move'the knife bar to operative position, substantially as described. 10. In a machine for shaving sound record tablets, the combination with a rotatable support for record tablets and a carriage mount; ed for relative feeding movement of a knife bar slidably mounted on said carriage for movement towards and away from said sup- 'port,means for moving said knife barto operative position comprising a member movable towards and away from said carriage and having a resilient connection with the knife bar, said knife bar beingprovided with means adapted to coact with said memberto limit the movement of the latter away from said support independently of the knife bar, a hollow member'mounted on the carriage, and a spring disposed within said hollow member and constantly tending to move said movable member away from said support, the outer end of said hollow member being adapted to coact with said movable me'mber to limit the movement of the latter towards said support upon actuation thereof tomove the knife bar-to operative position, said movable member being provided with means slidably engaging said hollow member for guiding the movable member in its movements towards and away from said support, substantially as described "11. Ina machine'for shaving'soundrecord tablets, the'combination with a rotatable support for record tabletsand a'carriage'mounted for relative feedingmovement, of a knife bar slidably mounted on said carriage for movement towards and away from said support and having its end portions extending from the carriage, a eollaron the inner end.

portion of the knife bar coacting with the carriage to limit the movement of the knife bar away from said support, a collar adjustably mounted on the outer end portion of the knife bar adapted to coact with said carriage to limit the movement of the latter towards said support, means for moving said knife bar to operative position comprising a hollow cap movable towards and away from said carriage, the outer end portion of the knife bar extending loosely through the top of said cap and being provided with means adapted to coact with the cap to limit the movement of the latter away from said support independently of the knife bar, a coiled spring disposed on the knife bar between the said adjustable collar and the top of said cap, a hollow member mounted on said carriage and extending outwardly therefrom and a second spring disposed within said hollow member and constantly tending to move said cap outwardly away from said support, the outer end of said hollow member coacting with said cap to limit the movement of the latter towards said support, substantially as described.

This specification signed this 27th day of August, 1925.

CHARLES W. LUHR. 

